It is however a highlighting of my observation that since Jacinda announced her leadership the country has sat up and taken notice. Labour has woken up and the country along with it.
On the day of announcement of Jacinda's leadership she took to the lectern and took command.
Considering the volatile party circumstances she was a relative picture of composure. Her voice was strong, her direction for the party fortified and most importantly she drove the voice of her policies strongly and clearly. It wasn't just Jacinda I heard but it was the policies of Labour also.
I couldn't hear the policies before. They weren't hitting home. I could hear the previous leader speaking of things and negating the policies and actions of the other parties, namely National Party in particular, however I lost focus and couldn't actually hear through the noise what Labour offered as an alternative to counter or rectify the situation. I can hear those polices now under Jacinda's leadership, and for me that's the difference of an effective leader.
Labour have a strong clear voice now, which in my opinion wasn't the case before. They look like a team, and again that's something they have lacked previously.
As Hosking rightly points out, Labour largely still have the same policies as before. The difference now, however, is in the presentation of the policies and the party and the pulling together of its MPs into a cohesive team.
The key task now is pulling together the rest of NZ alongside them. It's one thing to pull your team together, it's another to pull the country alongside as well.
To give kudos where it's due, this is what I have observed of National over the years. They do present as a relatively united front and team in the halls of power and have been able to pull a lot of the country along in terms of votes.
Labour weren't even on the playing field before. Now that they are, my prediction is that this election is increasingly going to be a battle of policies - and rightly so.
Take for example housing, which is a hot topic in New Zealand and Hawkes Bay. Housing affordability is no longer solely an Auckland issue and party policies and implementation should recognise, reflect and address this state of affairs, especially if they are to govern post-election.
It's the policies, particularly in how they relate to the regions and how they relate to everyday life, that will win support from people in regions like Hawkes Bay.
*Jacoby Poulain is a Hastings district councillor, a board member of the Hawke's Bay District Health Board and is on the EIT Council.
